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Cowlishaw: USL needs to fix busy schedule

There's a reward for continuing to win in the U.S. Open Cup: USL PRO and teams from other divisions lower than MLS earn a shot to take down the big dogs. The Rhinos and Richmond Kickers each won this week on

Cowlishaw: USL needs to fix busy schedule

There's a reward for continuing to win in the U.S. Open Cup: USL PRO and teams from other divisions lower than MLS earn a shot to take down the big dogs. The Rhinos and Richmond Kickers each won this week on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, to earn dates in mid-June against D.C. United (for Rochester) and the New England Revolution (for Richmond). But it comes at a price, and it's something USL PRO officials need to address. That's not me saying that, although I believe, it's what Kickers coach Leigh Cowlishaw said after Richmond played the Rhinos to a 0-0 draw on Friday night at Sahlen's Stadium.

"I'm coming out here to make sure we don't lose a game and I don't want to do that. I want to come to Rochester and play an open game and see what we can do attacking-wise, but the schedule doesn't dictate it," said Cowlishaw, Richmond's 14th-year coach. "That dictates what I do tactically and unfortunately for the Rochester fans we packed it in and did a good job of it."

Richmond is playing three times in four nights this week: home on Wednesday (Cup match with a three-hour lightning delay), Friday at Rochester (following Thursday's 10-hour bus trip here), Saturday in Harrisburg. Two weeks ago, it played three times in five nights. The Rhinos are in the midst of a four-matches-in-nine-days stretch and by Sunday night will play three times in six days this week.

Fatigued teams are the result of the busy schedule USL PRO teams endure when they're balancing league play and competing in the Cup. "It's more than tough it's absurd," Cowlishaw said of the overloaded schedule. "It's just too much. I've talked about it with the league for numerous years. It's just not right and it needs addressing."

The first half was somewhat dull on Friday. It seemed like two teams pacing themselves. Rochester got after it more in the second and had a handful of chances.

"Three games in six days, 90 minutes, it's weathering on the body for sure," said Lance Rozeboom, one of the Rhinos' ironman midfielders who was rested on Tuesday with eight other guys who started on Friday. "The good thing about us is we're pretty deep. We had a rotation going."

That's why coach Bob Lilley again wanted to see more energy and aggressiveness earlier rather than later. Even in the second half, when the Rhinos did go more at Richmond, they couldn't convert. "There were balls crossed where I want to see our guys sprinting in front of (defenders). I feel like we're a bit static," Lilley said. "The moments we're breaking teams down and we have numbers in the box there's not enough movement whether it be picks or hard runs to the near post."

Rozeboom agreed, saying the Rhinos need more hunger to score in the box. "You have to find a way to grind out results because that's the league. It's frustrating not to get a goal again, but our defense is playing great," Rozeboom said.

Credit rookie midfielder Minh Vu, though. He collided twice with the Richmond goalie, giving up his body in each half trying to score. More of that needs to happen because 12 goals in 12 matches in all competitions won't cut it. Neither will all these draws. The Rhinos realized last year that it's tough to climb the standings one point at a time. Dayton, where it tied 1-1 on April 11 while allowing a late goal, is next. The Dutch Lions are 2-5-2, including 0-3-2 in Ohio. One point won't do on Sunday for the Rhinos (3-2-5), they need to make it three.

Rochester led 6-5 in shots and 8-4 in corner kicks. Vu had a goal disallowed in the 73rd minute for being called offside after Donnie Smith whipped a good cross from the left flank into the box. Smith, down from the New England Revolution for a one-match loan, played well. In the first half, he dribbled past a defender and put a dangerous ball in front that nearly connected with Alec Sundly, another Rhino on loan from their MLS parent team. On that 73rd-minute chance, Vu volleyed it past goalie Joe Willis before they collided. Willis and counterpart, Rhinos rookie John McCarthy, each made two saves. McCarthy's five shutouts and 0.167 goals-against average in six matches leads the league.

"I think we will score eventually. We'll find our streak," McCarthy said. "I just try to keep our back line and midfield locked in mentally."